80 years young

The birthday girl 80 years today, complete with just received flowers and alpaca scarf.

It?s hard to believe she is 80. She doesn't look it, is fit active and relatively healthy.

You already know from the events of my life over the past months what a treasure this woman is. She is compassionate, kind, forgiving, tolerant, wise and beautiful. It is a privilege to be her daughter and to call her Mum.

If I manage to age into a woman resembling my mother, I will have lived a successful life.

Happy birthday Mum. As you so said today, "80 years young".

PS The pen and ink drawing in the background is the main home Mum grew up in - One Tree Hill Auckland. I drew it for her from two photographs (the house has since been removed) for her 60th birthday.